Goan Voice, Canada : People Places and Things

THE BELLS ARE RINGING at St. Francis Xavier Church in Mississauga where a new bell tower was dedicated in time for World Youth Day 2002. The Parish was host to a young pilgrims the Church a centre of catechism for event.

The Friends of St. Francis Xavier feast celebrations on Dec 7 will include a procession with the relic of the Saint followed by high mass, and a free day long fair at St. FX School (see details in the events section) See Church web site www.saintfrancisxavierchurch.org

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STAGE: The major social event in Toronto on Thanksgiving weekend in Canada is the Tanzanite Ball. This year was no exception where a sold-out crowd of 750, with many from abroad, came to renew friendships and enjoy themselves. The highlight of the evening was a performance by a young Tanzania-born comedienne, Chrystal Gomes who delighted the inter-generation crowd with her comedy. However, over the past week the Tanzanite newsgroups were abuzz on what happened when the young comedienne descended from the stage to be berated with a sermonette by a visiting Goan cleric. Many there found his comments offensive and un-called for by a man of the cloth. Ref: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/goans_tanzanite.

The Goan public hold a special place in their hearts for Chrystal who conquered a lot of adversity in life, and survived the pain of Multiple Sclerosis. A documentary about Chrystal and her battle with MS has been aired many times on TV with articles in numerous papers. Her interview with host Paula Todd of TVO's Face-To-Face is a program all Goans should view, as it reveals just as much about us, as Chrystal did about herself.

SALIGAOKARS MOVE TO SALCETE: But folks back home need not be alarmed. This was a sporting gesture by the Saligao F.C. team just for the Goan Soccer league to keep the teams balanced in the inter-village tournament. See http://www.goansoccer.com/index.asp

KEEPING GOA PLASTIC FREE is the mission of Panjim councillor, Patricia Pinto, who visited Canada at the invitation of various environmental groups. She found time to address a meeting hosted by the International Goan Organization (IGO)at Mississauga City Hall and spoke of the efforts being made in Goa to reduce pollution. An account of this meeting by veteran journalist Eugene Correia appears on www.goacom.com/goanet message# 24547
along with his perceived shortcomings of the IGO.

Fine plastic is banned for packaging and for shopping bags.
Goan school kids make shopping bags from old newspaper and glue, and sell
them to local shopkeepers.
The thicker milk bags are collected by student groups for recycling, the
proceed of which are used to fund the school TV cable charges.
Plastic pop bottles are now returnable and collected by bottlers for
shipment outside the state.
Environmental awareness is now an essential part of the school curriculum.
School patrol with whistles alert those accustomed to using the streets as
toilets and steer them to proper facilities.
Efforts to privatize Miramar beaches have stalled, and similarly a move to
turn the Sinquerim plateau into a garish Disneyland.
Constant vigilance is and the reading of the fine print in newspapers is
required to make it to hearings for re-zoning of homes and property to keep
developers running rough shod over the proceedings.

FROM GOA WITH LOVE contains 128 articles, middles, essays and stories written by Prof. Eduardo de Sousa of Pilerne, Goa, in various Goan newspapers from 1977 to 2001. This is his 15th book of Prof. Sousa, who is 96 years old retired teacher, author and landlord. Through this kaleidoscopic compendium, Goa comes alive. The Goan lore, history, culture, poetry, music and mosaic. It is must read for non-resident Goans. In its 64 pages (1/8 size book) every Goan village, Church, Temple, prominent institution has been covered. The reader may also find some of their ancestors in its pages. Published by Dr. Leo Rebello, who has also edited, written a foreword to it and designed it.

To obtain the book write to : Dr. Leo Rebello at leorebello@vsnl.com or at 28/552 Samata Nagar, Kandvili East, Bombay 400101, India. Telefax (91-22) 8872741

BYZANTINE FESTIVAL: Music of John Tavener (UK) and Christos Hatzis on November 19, 2002 at 8.00 p.m. in association with the Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Patricia Rozario, soprano.